Review: The Killers at Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff

15:02, 5 November 2012

ByWalesOnline

The Killers perform at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff as part of their UK Tour, the band will be playing songs from their long anticipated new album Battle Born, and will undoubtedly perform fan favourites from previous albums.

Brandon Flowers of The Killers on stage at the Motorpoint Arena Cardiff Monday 5th of November

The Killers took to the stage at Cardiff Motorpoint Arena last night with a dazzling performance that fittingly on Bonfire Night set sparks flying.

In an explosive, hit strewn set the Las Vegas band proved why they’re once again at the height of their powers.

Tickets for this show sold out in double quick time and it’s easy to see why. It’s been both four years since The Killers released their last album Day & Age and last toured the UK, so understandably huge anticipation meant tickets were eagerly snapped up.

New album, the critically acclaimed Battle Born, only heightened the expectancy. Stuffed full of the sorts of massive tunes we’ve come to expect from The Killers, this gig signalled that they are just one step away from their ascension to the lofty realms of bona fide stadium rockers.

Anyone who remembers them putting in an impressive turn supporting U2 at the Millennium Stadium in 2005, when they gave the Irishmen a run for their money, will testify to that.

It’s been some journey for the outfit led by enigmatic showman Brandon Flowers. Eight years on since they made their first appearance at the tiny former Barfly club in Cardiff, they’ve returned refreshed and raring to go from a hiatus that saw Flowers release his debut solo album

With Springsteen and Bono’s band as their peers they had the crowd in raptures from the off.

The band stormed onto the stage and launched right into their indie anthem, Mr Brightside, with all the house lights still on it gave the distinct feel of a daytime festival gig. A decent feeling to have in the depths of winter.

But as the final chords of Mr Brightside faded out, the house lights faded too, and the spotlights were suddenly the only source of light, shining down on Brandon Flowers, Ronnie Vannucci, Dave Keuning, and Mark Stoermer.

A deafening roar of approval from the capacity crowd of 7000 reverberated around the arena.

Known for their flamboyant grandeur this time the band plumped instead for a spartan stage, sparsely furnished save for a giant screen that fittingly give the date projects images of exploding fireworks at periods during the set.

Flowers was his usual showman self working the crowd as they ran songs old and new. At one point he described a 'new sensation' he felt in 'unmentionable parts' of his body, before telling the crowd it was okay to have this sensation when listening Mark Stoermer play the bass guitar.

So we were treated to crowd favourites such as Smile Like You Mean It, Human, and Somebody Told Me, with songs from the new album that are sure to be future fan favourites like Runaways and Miss Atomic Bomb.

A climactic When You Were Young brought the curtain down on the set before they returned for a well-earned encore that included Jenny Was a Friend of Mine, the epic All These Things That I've Done and the pulsating electro rock of the title track from their new album, Battle Born.

If this show is a signpost of future intentions, I’d suggest the next time we see The Killers in Cardiff, it will be at that whacking big rugby stadium in the city centre.

But what did you think?

Jenny McCarthy tweeted: "The Killers taking over the Diff. Awesome 5 years ago and even more awesome today! #killerscardiff"

Rhys Bidder tweeted: "Killers. Cardiff. Unbelievable. That. Is. All."

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